Hinduism Existence is a complex and interconnected system
Hinduism has elements of : 1. Polytheism (many gods including Bramha "the creator", Vishnu "the sustainer" and Shiva "the destroyer"), 2. Monotheism (many gods are just aspects of one God "Brahman"), and 3. Monism (all existence is part of the same one reality "Brahman")
Essential that each part of the complex system plays its part
-Religious/social duty is individual and called dharma -A person's dharma is determined by their caste/varna and their ashrama. -Caste or varna is a person's social or religious class -people are born into and traditionally can not change their caste/varna Castes and Varnas include Brahmins- Priests/teachers Kshatriya- nobles/kings/government leaders Vaishya- commoners or merchants Shudra- servants or laborers Dalits or Untouchables- responsible for the "unclean" responsibilities
-A person's ashrama is their stage in life (less is expected of a baby than of a grown woman or man) Ashrama include 1. Brahmacharya (student) 2. Grihastha (householder or adult) 3. Vanaprastha (retired) 4. Sannyasa (renunciation- turning to spiritual rather than material world)
-Rituals and order are very important(we see from the beginning sacrifice of Purusha in the Rig Veda that creates existence)
Hindus believe that every person has an atman -essential self or soul -another form of Brahman
The goal of life is to realize moksha (union or understanding of Brahman) -people are separated or misled by selfishness and pride
Union is achieved through religious actions based on 3 principles 1.Reincarnation- the belief in rebirth of the atman in another bodily form a.Samsara- the cycle of rebirth life and re-death 3.Karma- all the actions in ones life that direct the path of their atman Through meeting dharma and samsara one can clime the caste ladder and ultimately realize moksha and escape rebirth.
The greatest ethical principle of Hinduism is ahimsa - the belief that all things are aspects of Brahman and need to be respected - this can mean complete nonviolence
Existence is a complex and interconnected system
Hinduism has elements of :
1. Polytheism (many gods including Bramha "the creator", Vishnu "the sustainer" and Shiva "the destroyer"),
2. Monotheism (many gods are just aspects of one God "Brahman"), and
3. Monism (all existence is part of the same one reality "Brahman")
Essential that each part of the complex system plays its part
-Religious/social duty is individual and called dharma
-A person's dharma is determined by their caste/varna and their ashrama.
-Caste or varna is a person's social or religious class
-people are born into and traditionally can not change their caste/varna
Castes and Varnas include
Brahmins- Priests/teachers
Kshatriya- nobles/kings/government leaders
Vaishya- commoners or merchants
Shudra- servants or laborers
Dalits or Untouchables- responsible for the "unclean" responsibilities
-A person's ashrama is their stage in life (less is expected of a baby than of a grown woman or man)
Ashrama include
1. Brahmacharya (student)
2. Grihastha (householder or adult)
3. Vanaprastha (retired)
4. Sannyasa (renunciation- turning to spiritual rather than material world)
-Rituals and order are very important(we see from the beginning sacrifice of Purusha in the Rig Veda that creates existence)
Hindus believe that every person has an atman
-essential self or soul
-another form of Brahman
The goal of life is to realize moksha (union or understanding of Brahman)
-people are separated or misled by selfishness and pride
Union is achieved through religious actions based on 3 principles
1. Reincarnation- the belief in rebirth of the atman in another bodily form
a. Samsara- the cycle of rebirth life and re-death
3. Karma- all the actions in ones life that direct the path of their atman
Through meeting dharma and samsara one can clime the caste ladder and ultimately realize moksha and escape rebirth.
The greatest ethical principle of Hinduism is ahimsa
- the belief that all things are aspects of Brahman and need to be respected
- this can mean complete nonviolence